Mr. Heartbreak Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 I always knew Lennon and McCartney were huge Chuck Berry fans, but I never really thought there was any lyrical connection there...just an influence. But a minute ago, this Chuck Berry song You Can't Catch Me came up on my iTunes, and I heard the following lyric: New Jersey Turnpike in the wee wee hoursI was rolling slowly 'cause of drizzlin' showersHere come old flattop he was movin' up with meThen come wavin' goodbye I did a double take. Huh? Did I hear that right? I looked up the lyrics, and sure enough, there it is. Lennon copped almost that whole line to start Come Together. Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly Anyone know any other instances of this connection in the Beatles lyrics? I find it fascinating, and kind of shocking, really. Dylan I would almost expect, but not Chuck B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 The obvious one is "Back in the USSR" copped from "Back in the USA" by Chuck. Not to mention all the covers of Berry they did. Kind of reminds me of Lennon and Berry jamming on the Mike Douglas show together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Chuck and his lawyers noticed it also: Via wiki: Lawsuit In 1973, "Come Together" was the subject of a lawsuit brought against Lennon by Big Seven Music Corp. (owned by Morris Levy) who was the publisher of Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". This was because it sounded similar musically to Berry's original and shared some lyrics (Lennon sang "Here come ol' flattop, he come groovin' up slowly" and Berry's had sung "Here come a flattop, he was movin' up with me"). Before recording, Lennon and McCartney deliberately slowed the song down and added a heavy bass riff in order to make the song more original.[9] After settling out of court, Lennon promised to record three other songs owned by Levy.[10] "You Can't Catch Me" and "Ya Ya" were released on Lennon's 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll, but the third, "Angel Baby", remained unreleased until after Lennon's death. Levy again sued Lennon for breach of contract, and was eventually awarded $6,795.[11] Thankfully John and Chuck seemed fine with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45V1Q_C2Wpc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Since we can only post one You Tube per post... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9kgu71d81U Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Those Berry lyrics are hysterical, (wee wee hours, drizzlin showers) considering his penchant for golden showers... John sang all the Beatles' Chuck Berry covers except one. Name it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Those Berry lyrics are hysterical, (wee wee hours, drizzlin showers) considering his penchant for golden showers... John sang all the Beatles' Chuck Berry covers except one. Name it. George Harrison sang Roll Over Beethoven. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 George Harrison sang Roll Over Beethoven. --MikeDing Ding! Correct. Favorite Beatles Berry cover? Mine: Sweet Little Sixteen, off the Live at the BBC album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Ding Ding! Correct. Favorite Beatles Berry cover? Mine: Sweet Little Sixteen, off the Live at the BBC album. Well it's gotta be Rock and Roll Music, if you wanna dance with me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Intersection of this thread and the greatest studio recordings thread..... Chuck Berry's Chess material!!! Most bands wish they could make records that sound as great as those Chuck Berry sides.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Anyone know any other instances of this connection in the Beatles lyrics? He also took a line from Elvis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_for_Your_Life Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 New Jersey Turnpike in the wee wee hoursI was rolling slowly 'cause of drizzlin' showersHere come old flattop he was movin' up with meThen come wavin' goodbye Also - Bruce Springsteen's State Trooper, Open All Night, and Johnny Bye-Bye. Morris Levy was quite a shady character. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Morris Levy was quite a shady character. And sadly not uncommon in the 1950's music industry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 And sadly not uncommon in the 1950's music industry.Or just about any year really.....although it is a bit harder to get away with these days. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 Yeah, I always knew the Beatles did a lot of Berry covers in their early days, most famously Rock & Roll Music and Roll Over Beethoven, but I never knew about the Come Together/You Can't Catch Me connection. Honestly, I have a ton of Chuck's Anthology material on my iTunes, but I don't listen to it much. I find him pretty repetitive after just a couple songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Here is the part I sort of recall: In the mid-1970s Levy filed a much-publicised lawsuit against John Lennon for appropriating a line from the Chuck Berry song, "You Can't Catch Me" (for which Levy owned the publishing rights) in The Beatles' song "Come Together." Lennon ultimately settled with Levy by agreeing to record three songs from Levy's publishing catalogue during the sessions for his 1975 LP Rock 'n' Roll, co-produced with Phil Spector. After complications, due to Spector, and attempts at a second agreement failed, Levy used demo recording from Lennon to produce and release "Roots." Levy successfully sued Lennon with an award of $6,795, but was countersued by Lennon, Capitol, EMI, and Apple for an award of $145,300. I think I almost remember seeing a TV commercial for the "Roots" album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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